Death

by tmb1112

Death is a Quirk that can only kill. A perfect Quirk for a villain, but what if the boy who manifested that power just wanted to be a hero? Enrolling in U.A. might not be enough when all your Quirk can do is kill people. Follow Zach Sazaki from his first day in Class A on a story that spans years, as he learns to be a hero, finds out more about his Quirk, and too much to summarize!

221. Chapter 221

Disclaimer: I don't own Boku no Hero Academia

Chapter 221:

"I think I'll follow Aizawa's precedent," All Might said while facing the two boys in front of him. It was difficult for him to do, but the weary-looking retired hero still managed a stern expression for the eighteen year olds who grimaced at the sight of him looking at them like this. "Which of you threw the first punch?"

"I did."

"It was me."

Kirishima glared to his side at Zach and Zach just kept facing All Might with a serious look and one of apology too. "It was really me," Kirishima growled while still glaring at the side of Zach's head.

"There's no need to try to take the blame-"

All Might rose his right hand and rubbed his forehead as Kirishima snapped and cut off Zach. I feel like it was Young Kirishima. Do I just assume Sazaki is lying though? Even if it is more likely, it is not good of a teacher to determine that without evidence. Why could Principal Nezu not just- I am their homeroom teacher. All Might stopped lamenting his duty here as he reminded himself it was his responsibility. "Well then," All Might started and cut off the boys. "Both of you will have three days of house arrest. Along with missing classes, you will spend your days and nights cleaning your dorm's common areas. And in the afternoons, I will have Cementoss take you to Training Ground Xi where he will not be assisting you as you repair the damage you caused."

"I understand, All Might. Sorry again about this-"

"I don't want you to be sorry," All Might interrupted as Zach was saying what sounded too much like a rehearsed statement. "I want you to be better," he scolded when Zach froze with his mouth open instead of finishing that apology. "Fighting? Not a week after your return here?" Zach's eyes shifted down for a moment but he brought them back quickly to keep the eye contact he did not feel was right to break. He nodded in understanding back at All Might who then turned to Kirishima who was opening his mouth again. "And Young Kirishima, I do hope you do not make a habit of this. Graduation is right around the corner. How can we as your teachers feel comfortable allowing you two to go out as heroes and upholders of the law, when you cannot follow the rules even at school?"

All Might looked back and forth between the boys who both bowed their heads to their teacher who sounded disappointed in them. "Sorry, All Might," both of them said at the same time while looking down at their feet.

All Might rubbed his forehead some more and then ran his hand up through his thin whitish-yellow hair. The wrinkle-faced man with sucked-in cheeks sighed and then nodded, "Alright. As long as you understand. You may go get started on your punishment."

The two looked up and nodded in understanding. They turned and headed off together, and All Might started panting once they were far enough away not to hear him. "Ahhh," he let out another long sigh as he caught his breath. He lifted the right corner of his lips as he looked after the two of them, I do not see why it had to be like this, to make you two friends again. He watched as Sazaki must have said something even while facing straight away from him, causing Kirishima to turn his head and snap in frustration but without any of the underlying rage in his expression. He had already been able to tell this while he was scolding them. Good work, Sazaki.

"Anyway," Zach cut off Kirishima who was arguing about how he had been the one to make the first physical contact in their fight. "All Might only gave us three days each. He said he was following Aizawa sensei's example, but that seemed pretty lenient, don't you think?" Zach lifted the right corner of his lips closer to Kirishima.

Kirishima had turned his head and so he could see All Might in his peripheral vision still. He turned forward like Zach before cracking a small but nostalgic smile himself. "Oh yeah. Aizawa sensei probably would have considered tossing us out."

"Imagine that. Three years at U.A.- or, more like one for me," Zach admitted with a partial shrug that made Kirishima snort in agreement as he held back a laugh. "All to end just like that, over…" Over, a stupid fight? Nah, that's not, what that was.

"A stupid fight," Kirishima finished. Zach shifted his eyes to the corners and looked to his right at his friend who just finished that for him.

"Yeah," Zach agreed after a moment. "It was stupid. We both knew who was going to win from the-"

"You didn't win!"

---

Cementoss sweatdropped while standing on the street in front of the damaged movie theater in Ground Xi. The two boys up on the roof just walked to the ledge of the front of the building and tossed off more rubble into the pile they were making first. They were going to get rid of everything they could not repair or use to help repairs before getting started on the actual damage they had caused, but Cementoss wondered if more damage was not about to be made as he listened to part of what those two were arguing about when they reached the edge of the building. Does it really matter who won?

"I was throwing you around like a ragdoll," Zach countered while throwing a large piece of ceiling off the roof towards the pile. "You couldn't do a-"

"I didn't feel a thing!" Kirishima retorted while launching a chunk he was sure was heavier than the one Zach just tossed. "Nothing more than a pinch," he added when Zach gave him a look seeming to remember Kirishima saying something different when they were talking about how strong Zach had become. "You're the one who…" Kirishima glanced at Zach's face and did not see a mark on it. "Did you see Recovery Girl?"

"Don't know what you're talking about," Zach replied. He said it casually, and Kirishima got confused for a moment as it could have gone either way. Is he being sarcastic? Or does he really not know what I'm- no, he knows, it's just-

Zach sweatdropped as he realized he just confused Kirishima. Why do I do that so naturally? "The cut was shallow," Zach said. "It healed up already."

"Really?" Kirishima wondered. Zach nodded while bending down and pushing some rubble towards a pile he could stuff into the hem of his shirt and carry back over to the edge of the roof. The ground creaked under his feet, and he grimaced while glancing towards the closest hole to him which had a larger crack coming away from it now he had to be wary of. Kirishima asked towards his back, "Did you fill the cut with Death or something?"

"No. My body just heals quickly," Zach replied. "Another side effect," he added in a lower voice.

Of killing so many people, Kirishima finished in his own head while turning away and heading towards some other debris. They were starting on the roof first and then moving down, that way they would not be in danger while working inside of rubble from the broken ceiling falling down on their heads. Kirishima hummed to himself while walking around a hole towards a piece of piping that was broken apart when they smashed through the roof too. Is that- It's a punishment for him, not a reward. He wouldn't have done it just to get stronger. Right?

No. No, the fact that there's no mark has to suck for him. Kirishima glanced back towards Zach whose expression had soured from their argument that had been more in good fun than anything. Not having that mark is a reminder of what he did. Good- Not good. That sucks. It should suck, when you kill someone. Kirishima had to look away again. But what if he had to? How often did he have to though? Often enough, that without those kills he'd probably still have a scratch on his face, right? I still feel my bruises. Does he not feel anything anymore? Didn't he say, he doesn't dream? He doesn't sleep? Injuries don't last on him. He must be numbed to pain too, with as many people as he's revived!

He feels. Kirishima shook his head and reminded himself of that simple fact. In his head he could see the person shouting at him the night before. He could imagine Zach's tears, and the thought of them relieved him at the present moment. That other stuff doesn't matter. He's still Zach. As much has happened, as much as he's changed, it's him in there. It's always been him. And he's always in pain. Kirishima heard screams that echoed in his mind to remind him of what he had actually just questioned himself. Of course he feels. Constantly, he said. Even now? I can't even tell. That's the point though, right? What he wants.

This isn't such a bad punishment, Zach thought along a whole different track as his classmate. I already had so much to make up though. This is going to be rough. I promised my teachers I'd work my hardest to keep up with everyone now. Zach sighed and continued working, moving a steady pace and keeping his feet light on the roof so as not to exasperate the damage. I'm just glad it all worked out. And I'm glad Bakugo didn't interrupt, Zach thought while tossing more stuff off the roof, his eyes shifting to a location out front where he had spotted the spiky-haired blond the night before.

Bakugo's gotten more skilled in stealth not to give himself away. Lemillion was pretty good when he tracked me around. Bakugo's learned something from him- though I was also distracted on my way here. Too busy thinking of how to deal with Kirishima that I didn't realize Bakugo was watching until after the fight had started. Definitely better I never mention knowing he was there. Zach decided on it and slouched his shoulders after looking around the roof and not seeing much else they needed to discard. Can't ask Cementoss sensei to just patch up any holes. He's only here to watch. Maybe he could at least get us the supplies we need to repair it ourselves then…

"They what?" Inside Class 3-A, Yaoyorozu sat up out of her seat and questioned All Might in a loud voice that had the homeroom teacher looking towards his best student in surprise. "Ah-ahem," Yaoyorozu sat back down as many others looked towards her as well in surprise at her outburst, though they all turned right back to All Might as most were surprised by what they just heard as well.

"The two are under house arrest for their fight. Both of them for the next 3 days," All Might continued to the troublemaker students' classmates who were confused as to where the two of them were.

"That's a low penalty," Jirou muttered, making Bakugo nod his head in the seat behind her with his eyes narrowing towards All Might who avoided Bakugo's suddenly harsh gaze.

All Might rose his right hand and scratched that side of his face to partially block Bakugo from his peripheral vision. Ah, perhaps I was a little too lenient.

Neither of them got four days like Kacchan, Midoriya thought while looking towards his childhood friend whose anger was pronounced on his face. Midoriya's gaze passed Bakugo though and went through the windows on Katsuki's left side. Did Kirishima figure you out? Did he try to arrest you, and you resisted him? Midoriya hesitated and then doubled back on what he just thought. Or was it just a culmination of things? Unfinished business between the two of you? How many people around me know that you're Death? Or, that you were Death?

It feels like so many do. Yet no one's willing to do anything about it. I know, I don't want to, Midoriya reminded himself. But if it became public knowledge and the order was passed down…

"All Might," Mineta began while raising his hand. The teacher nodded at Mineta, and the shortest boy in Class A wondered quickly, "Who won?!"

All Might sweatdropped at the question and he opened his mouth to reply that it shouldn't matter. "Mineta-kun! That is not the appropriate question for this violation of the rules!" All Might closed his mouth and relaxed as he decided to just let Iida scold Mineta much harder than he had the energy for.

Classes went on as usual for the day. After school ended, around half of the class left for internships that afternoon. The nation was still busy with the events of the previous week, and things did not look to be settling down anytime soon. As Zach and Kirishima cleaned the first floor common areas, a few of their classmates were on the couches watching tv. It gave the two of them the excuse to watch some as well, as long as they continued cleaning just in case All Might came by to check on their progress.

Mineta lifted his head and looked over the back of the couch he was sitting on. "So, who won?"

Zach and Kirishima were in different parts of the room each sweeping by themselves. They were looking towards the couches already, but they glanced towards each other and thought about their argument that morning. Zach did not respond and got back to sweeping. Kirishima smirked and did the same without answering Mineta's question.

"Oi," Mineta looked back and forth between them but neither glanced back his way. "Hmph," Mineta grunted and turned back, falling into his seat again and looking back at the tv. "Alright, don't tell me. I bet it was Zach anyway!" He rose his voice and called it out loudly to make sure Kirishima heard him.

Zach darted a look Kirishima's way but Kirishima just smirked in a knowing way that made Zach roll his eyes. Maybe he just knows that Mineta's baiting him. That's what the smirk is for. Not that he thinks Mineta's wrong- does it matter? Not really. Zach smiled himself and continued with his cleaning duties. It's not like this is much of a problem for me. It sucks for Kirishima, because he'll have to make up the work and studying he's missing during hours he would have spent sleeping. I'm not tired though.

Still not even a yawn. I could force one, maybe that will make me tired. I can't be tired though. I need to continue tracking the League and deciphering The God Book when I'm supposed to be sleeping.

I could just do it in half the time with my eyes glowing. Death on the brain. Not a great lifestyle choice. Zach swept and turned the other way, letting out a yawn for no reason at all other than to do so. What was sleeping like, again? Such a weird thought. Is this the longest period of straight consciousness- A flash of white filled Zach's mind and his eyes clenched shut. Outside of the Void. Outside it! Straight consciousness in the real world feels different!

I was right. When I talked to Softy, still high as balls. Zach let out a sigh and then continued thinking fast to cover up the things he heard farther back in his mind that echoed louder when there was nothing speaking over them. I spent those days like an idiot. Enjoying them? Feeling so good not to have to feel? I wasn't even thinking about it. I was glad that I wasn't thinking about it. That's not who I'm supposed to be. A good person doesn't get happy that they can live without those burdens. Those burdens are what make someone good. I can still feel like I'm doing what's right, as long as I still remember all I've done wrong. I can't forget it.

I was glad that I didn't have to think about it. I was glad, actually happy! That I didn't even care about hammering The Hammer's skull through with his own hammer. Or blowing The Painter's brains out with his sniper. I didn't even think about all these people I murdered in cold blood. I was fine with not thinking about them! What kind of fucking monster did I become? And, what's going to happen if I do it again? On that high it would have been easy to kill them all. The whole League. I could have wiped them out and buried their bodies ten miles deep. I wouldn't have felt a thing. I would have felt even less afterwards. I'd be- STOP! RAAAA! "HELP ME!" "Please- no no NO!" "Oh God save me- oh God- please please PLEA-"

After living unburdened for a couple days, it was impossible to hold it all back now. He had spent so long compiling it all, letting it build up, so it was always gradual. Then it shifted completely off his shoulders; hundreds of tons of emotional weights moved aside- and then dropped back on all at once! I held back as long as possible. Last night was the breaking point. It should have been with Shoji. I had already felt the high diminishing, but I was terrified of bringing it all back. Knowing I had pushed it away, I thought I could just let bits and pieces in at a time. Man, last night was fucking horrible. Good results- but he didn't know, because I couldn't drag it all out at once. I didn't want to. Yet I needed to tell him, which meant I had to say it. I had to think it. And now, I'm just thinking about thinking to cover up what I could be thinking about.

Isn't that a thought?

"You want to clean the bathrooms now?" Kirishima wondered while sweeping closer to Zach who had aimlessly been sweeping around but getting closer to him too.

Zach lifted his head, then he nodded after a moment. "Yeah. Yeah let's get it done now. Before people start coming back from their internships."

Kirishima nodded as that made sense to him. Gang Orca was pissed when I had to explain it earlier. Though he asked the same thing Mineta did, after scolding me. Kirishima almost smirked as he thought about the pro hero he was working with criticizing him for getting in a fight, only to ask that question before ending the call.

"So you clean the girls' bathroom, I'll get-"

"Nuh uh," Kirishima shook his head and denied that. "Why do you get-"

"How about both of us clean each bathroom together?" Zach suggested. "That way if anyone walks in, you know, it just looks better."

Kirishima frowned and looked towards the girls' room again. He shrugged his shoulders thinking about if someone walked in while they were both mopping the floor. That wouldn't be bad. "Sure."

Kirishima started forward and walked into the opening of the girl's bathroom that curled around an entrance tunnel into the main space. Zach stayed where he was for a few seconds, then Kirishima poked his head back out and looked at him confusedly. "Anyone in there?" Zach wondered.

"Huh-" Kirishima froze and he frowned at Zach when he realized what he just did. He turned and asked that question into the bathroom Zach just let him walk into without warning him, as he was only thinking about girls who might come in after they were already in there. "Hey! Coming in to clean! …Anyone- Uraraka?" Kirishima remembered that Uraraka was the only girl in their class still on campus and corrected himself, then he just headed inside to get to work.

Would have been pretty funny, Zach thought as he followed behind Kirishima into the bathroom. "Let's get this done quickly," Zach mentioned though, as he found it less funny now that he was in there too.

At dinner the first night of their suspension/house arrest, Kirishima and Zach were in and out of the cafeteria as quick as possible. When the two entered they stopped talking at the sight of All Might standing there near the lunch line waiting for them. He watched them get their food and leave then relaxed the stern face that had every person in the U.A. cafeteria on edge as it was so strange to see All Might looking like that.

"Think he's mimicking Aizawa sensei?" Hagakure wondered to Jirou on her side as they two of them sighed and continued eating their food.

"Duh," Jirou responded, though it was only when Hagakure asked that the resemblance suddenly became uncanny to her.

Shoji had already been on his way out of the cafeteria when Zach and Kirishima entered. He was still on his way back to the dorm though when the two of them sped-walked by him with trays in their hands, talking about cleaning the teachers' dorms' common areas the next day during classes when the teachers would not be back there. Kirishima was nodding along quickly with Zach's suggestions that sounded like a great way to ensure they got back on the teachers' good side even before they returned to their classes behind in all their subjects.

Shoji listened in to their conversation as they walked much farther ahead of him with strides longer than his and a pace more than twice his own. His bottom right hand of his six arms had transformed into an ear that twitched as Kirishima laughed loudly when Zach mentioned how he bet Midoriya and Bakugo wished they had thought of this two years ago. What the heck happened? Shoji just stopped where he was on the road and watched the two of them turning down the sidewalk for their shared building's front door. Shoji shook his head and continued walking though slowly towards the building again.

I have no idea how they fixed things, he admitted to himself. Shoji pictured in his head Kirishima heading downstairs with a dark scowl the night before when he left Zach alone in the common room. I didn't think it would be easy, and I guess it wasn't. I didn't want to eavesdrop but I probably should have followed and made sure you didn't fight… except, it seems like you fighting fixed things. That, makes sense.

Zach and Kirishima started cleaning the windows around the courtyard of their dorm. Kirishima had the outer windows at first but came inside when it started raining out, and Zach admitted to him as they wiped the inner windows together that they were likely going to have to do the outside ones again the next day. They still had fixing most of Training Ground Xi, as well as their new plan of cleaning the teachers' dorms, which gave them a busy schedule for tomorrow.

"A-hem," the boys cleaning the kitchen of their dorm rather late at night looked towards one of the tables between the kitchen and the couches where Mineta and Tsuyu were talking and watching tv together. There was a classmate of theirs sitting at the table with her notes all out in front of her, and Yaoyorozu lowered her head back down when the two boys finally looked her way. She hummed to herself and nodded with a confident smile that she fully knew the information she was going over and studying down there in the common room.

Without a word, Yaoyorozu stood up and took her books with her. She walked away from the table and Kirishima stared after her in confusion for a second before looking back at the table she just left. "Hey Yaoyorozu, you-"

Zach grabbed Kirishima by the shoulder and then rolled his eyes when Kirishima looked back at him in even more confusion. Zach walked over to the table while Yaoyorozu kept going after hesitating for a moment as she wondered if she was going to have to be even less subtle. Zach smiled gratefully towards her back as Yaoyorozu kept going, then he turned back to Kirishima who was walking towards him with a questioning look getting mildly annoyed that he did not get what was going on. Zach picked up the two small stacks of papers that Yaoyorozu had copied for them, and he handed off Kirishima's notes while folding his own into fourths and sliding them in his pocket for later when everyone else was sleeping.

"Hey, these are-" Kirishima stopped himself from finishing that statement. He darted his eyes around and then pocketed his own notes like Zach had done. Thanks, Yaoyorozu. Man, you knew exactly what that was from the start, Kirishima added to himself with a glance to his side as there was another reason he was able to just stop talking. He realized he did not need to explain as Zach knew what it was long before he even looked down at the papers, considering Zach barely gave the top piece a glance before putting them away in his pocket.

Kirishima and Zach continued cleaning up the dorms' common areas and they made their way over towards the couches. It was getting tedious and they needed to watch some tv for a bit to get some extra stimulus. Mineta and Asui had stopped talking to each other as they watched one of the news reports on a small group of Radians who were busted by Endeavor, Shoto, Hawks, Tsukuyomi, Lemillion, Scorchle, Deku, and Explosion King just an hour ago. The Lemillion agency was in charge of the mission but had called in the top heroes after locating the enemies they were searching for. The joint mission had resulted in the capture of five villains, with three of them known Radians and two others unknown villains who were being reported as other Radians as well.

Wonder if that's true, Zach thought to himself as he listened to the reporters talking about how the Radians' recruitment efforts must still be attracting new villains. The other reporter mentioned how they were captured without much of a struggle though and how the small base in Osaka was nothing more than a shoddy apartment. "…Maybe this is a sign that the Radians' cash flow is much smaller than it used to be, considering the kind of bases we've seen housing them in the past in previous raids."

"Reports both in Japan and in nations where trade of drugs and weapons villains carried out a lot of during the past two years indicate that the trade and manufacturing of all contraband has been on a gradual decline. Gradual only in the past few months, I mean, after the extremely sharp decline last year around this time."

"I think the decline came a little less than a year ago. More like last April and May, we really saw the results from all the arrests that broke records last March, and April."

"Either way, it doesn't seem like there's much strength behind the Radians now. They were always a more, idealistic group, than let's say the Subspace Devils or the Jazz. How they received their cash flow was always in question, but I don't see them maintaining their status as the top villain gang-"

"Even with the League of Villains' return, I think it would be a mistake to think Intanzo isn't the priority for heroes right now. Seeing as the top heroes, and the top new heroes were all targeting the Radians together…"

"Ppffph," Mineta blew air through his lips and leaned back into the couch at the reporter's current statement he was finishing. "We haven't even graduated yet, and they're already calling them the 'Top new heroes?'"

"So unfair," Zach agreed from behind Mineta.

Mineta frowned deeper and darted a look behind him at the boy he figured was being sarcastic. "Don't you have a toilet to clean?"

Zach and Kirishima frowned darkly down at Mineta whose eyes widened at the looks on their faces. "Pff," Kirishima blew air through his lips this time as Mineta got that anxious look from their expressions. He had seen Zach making the harsh expression at his side when Mineta was responding and did his best to match it, but when he laughed Zach could not keep up the fake dark look either and just smirked at Mineta's reaction.

Zach's gaze did shift to the side a little though as he smiled, and Mineta snapped at the two of them that he was really going to make cleaning the toilets stink now for them. It would have probably gotten Tsuyu to smack him in the side of the head with her tongue, but she was busy looking back at Zach and making eye contact with her classmate who looked back and lifted the right corner of his mouth for a second in a friendly gesture. Tsuyu just stared back hesitantly, and Zach looked away from her and to Mineta instead to respond to the shorter boy snapping at them.

Zach's eyes rose up over Mineta's head though as Mineta continued ranting about the 'top tier' new heroes to Kirishima and asking if Kirishima was not annoyed about it. Asui followed Zach's look back to the television as she could see a serious look in his eyes even as he continued to smile and nod as he pretended to still listen to Mineta. Zach read the moving bar on the bottom of the screen discussing other news throughout the world, Death toll rose again today. 12 people dead in 24 hours? I thought the Chinese came up with a treatment- and then there's Gondorhan. That's really bad.

"Breaking news out of the United States."

The others looked back to the tv, right as Asui had changed the channel to see if another station was talking about what she just read on bottom of the screen too. The next news channel was talking about it just now, though Zach figured she did not need to change the channel as he bet the last station would have turned this on anyway. Star-Spangled Man was standing in a HAZMAT suit outside of a quarantine zone in Gondorhan, Arizona. "…Unfortunately, we have come to the conclusion that the incident has spared no one. Of the 14,568 people suspected to be in the Gondorhan area that was quarantined last week, 14,513 have been located and documented. There have been no survivors, and there is little hope for the remaining 55 persons who are missing and still being searched for by our teams inside."

"That's so horrible," Kirishima said, his voice low and his eyes dark as he looked at the screen. None of the heroes on it were smiling. Captain Celebrity, Allegra, Mountie Man, and Señor Striker all stood behind Star-Spangled Man with grim expressions on their faces. None of them were wearing the head pieces with glass visors of their quarantine suits though even just outside of the area which was rare in press conferences before this point, which Star-Spangled Man went on to explain.

"…top scientists and doctors have studied the effects of the sudden illness and discovered little evidence to explain what happened. However, through extensive testing of the water and air inside Gondorhan they have come to the conclusion that whatever caused this catastrophe is not lingering in the air or poisoning the water supply for surrounding areas that have been partially quarantined for additional precautionary measures. We do believe that the recommendations first put out by the CDC were correct and appreciate the help of…"

Zach rubbed his forehead while turning away from the screen. What the hell happened there? If I wasn't fighting Ares, could I have done anything? Would I have? Probably. If Midoriya hadn't come to get me, at least. Even if he had. I was looking for a reason to run that night.

A couple hours later, Zach and Kirishima were alone down in the common room. The tv was off but they were cleaning the cushions and dusting down the area around the television and the surrounding furniture. The work was tedious and just went on nonstop, but they could not declare the day's work over until All Might sent them a text allowing them to call it quits for the night.

All Might had told himself that he would keep them working late the first night to teach them a lesson early on. It worked doubly in his favor because he had fallen behind on some work and figured if he was going to stay up anyway he could just get it done in the meantime. Kirishima and Zach were therefore left to clean without any end considering All Might was asleep at his computer in his room, the dimmed screen finally turning black as the mousepad had not been touched in the past half hour. The former top hero of Japan had his face down on some paperwork and was snoring lightly. A message on his phone might have woken him up, but neither Kirishima nor Zach wanted to ask their teacher to release them from the work when they were supposed to be dealing with their punishment and not complaining about it.

Zach sensed that something was off when it passed midnight still with no update from their homeroom teacher. He just sighed though as he wondered about it, Even if he did just pass out on us, it could work in our favor. Though, not sure how regretful he'd feel about it since it's our fault he was woken up in the middle of the night last night. Guess we deserve this. Zach looked to his right and saw Kirishima yawn while heading back towards the kitchen to grab a spray bottle they had used earlier for the countertops. Not much left to clean. We could get the bathrooms again. Everyone who came back from internships took a shower, and especially those four who fought villains tonight. They were probably- Who am I kidding?

That team the news described sounds like most capable team of heroes in the nation. Our top three heroes and probably the top three hero recruits going into next year. Tokoyami might not be fourth, and I bet Inasa could give Todoroki a run for his money, but still. Zach leaned over the tv and blew into some slots on the top he could not get too far inside with the rag he was wiping down the device with. No dust blew out, and Zach sighed as the area was already so clean there was not much else they could do. I should ask Midoriya tomorrow about the raid. I wonder if he'd tell me everything?

I just need to know if those two unknown Radians were really just Radians they had not encountered before. If they were Jazz, or even LoV, would they have released that to the public? I wouldn't. Already, the raid on Miss Management's place confirms my worst fears about unity among the villains. Kaminari laying the trap for the attack on his forest hideout and making sure it was only LoV guys around during it makes it out like they're completely different. A huge reveal and return of the League. Except I know they were never really gone. It's all about Intanzo.

If he allies with Shigaraki- or if he's already an ally, or a subordinate more likely, Zach frowned as he thought about it. Tiona would be pissed if I said that aloud. It's probably true though. It would cause panic if people found out. Make them feel unsafe. Maybe some caution is necessary though. If I were to say publicly that they're all working together, people would believe me. They'd want proof. Heroes would demand it. Which means, any proof that Endeavor, Hawks, and Lemillion may have would all have to be released. And they'd lose whatever edge they have over Kaminari. "Hmmm," Zach hummed to himself and flashed his eyes red. I wish I had more underworld contacts in Japan. I can't even get in contact with anyone anymore since I didn't keep many phone numbers, and it's clear Mr. Principal is listening in to my calls. That's pretty shitty, though maybe he only intercepted the call because of Rebel calling in internationally and probably with heavy firewalls protecting the call from being listened in to.

Sorry Rebel. You may have met your match here. Nezu's not your average mouse-bear-man dog guy. He's even smarter than Dover, probably. Man I miss Dover. Zach smiled softly at the thought of the last time the bear came and visited him. I'm glad he came to Japan. Blackstar too. And Darling, Zach's smile lowered a little and his eyes rose up to the ceiling. Wonder where she is now?

"So hey," Kirishima started, and Zach turned his head and looked back to his friend sitting down on the couch. Kirishima started wiping the surface of the coffee table back and forth with a wet rag. He needed something to keep him awake, but Zach still felt hesitant as Kirishima looked both ways before refocusing back on him. Not in the dorm, Kirishima. I don't want to tell him that. It's late. If Jirou's listening… If she is, then maybe she'll come down and record me or something. She has the right to- nay, the responsibility. I'd never convince her. Wish I could imagine things would work out the same way they did with you, Zach thought while looking into Kirishima's small red irises. But this is just not the place to talk about this!

"About what you were saying last night," Kirishima continued.

Zach opened his mouth but froze with it open. Do I say anything? Is he that stupid- Does he not care? Did I not really convince him?

"Is there anything else, important," Kirishima started. He paused and wondered how best to word this, making Zach relax and continue with his cleaning with a calmer look on his face. "Stuff that, it would help me- you know? Stuff that I could use- that would be useful, for any hero. Stuff that only you know about?"

Zach nodded his head and hummed at the question. So many things, Kirishima. Experiences that I learned so much from. And how much of that could I explain here? Zach tilted his head back and stopped what he was doing. Hell, why not?

Is he alright? Kirishima stared anxiously out the corners of his eyes towards his friend who stopped moving all of a sudden. If he's thinking back on it, shouldn't it be hurting him like it did last night? Is he in pain right now? Should I tell him it doesn't matter? It does though! I asked for a reason! He knows things that we should all know. "Anything?" Kirishima wondered, his voice lower but stern as he wanted something here. We can't just pretend like you didn't say all you did. You said you did so much and I, want to know more about it. Kirishima turned and looked straight at Zach who sighed and then leaned back on the tv stand so he was partially sitting on the edge of it right in front of the turned-off television.

"Alright. What do you know about bounty hunters?" Zach asked. He put his hands down on the edge on either side of where he was leaning and looked back into Kirishima's eyes. He had a serious look though still somewhat friendly too as he kept the talk light while still showing he was going to be truthful. "Anything?" Zach wondered.

Kirishima hesitated for a moment as he first determined that Zach was being serious with the question. Bounty hunters? He's not talking about like in movies. People who track others down for bounties? Do people still do that? I heard of, I know it is real- Kirishima started nodding his head slowly. "I know about Fetto-"

"What do you know?" Zach asked.

"I mean, I've heard of it," Kirishima corrected himself. He shook his head though and added, "But, I don't really remember what happened. It was this big villain bust, a long time ago, right?"

Zach shrugged his shoulders and nodded once. "That's about right. In Japan, Fetto is the first thing that comes to mind with bounty hunting. I used to think of it the same way you do. Wasn't very important, happened a long time ago, and in Japan it ended the practice of bounty hunting as a legitimate means of capturing villains." Kirishima's face started looking confused and Zach filled in the blanks for him, "A while ago, when heroes were still trying to get control of the chaotic world brought about by the emergence of Quirks, not every vigilante who fought villains did so for free or out of the goodness in their hearts." Kirishima started frowning but Zach shook his head back with an eyebrow raised at him, "Hey, heroes today get paid too, better than those bounty hunters ever did."

"Yeah but… it was the way you said it," Kirishima countered, crossing his arms and frowning as he felt like Zach had misled him into getting annoyed at the bounty hunters.

Zach shook his head though, It's not the way I said it, Kirishima. It's your preconceptions that make it easy to take a little and run with it. "Bounty hunters were more official than the vigilantes even back then, because of their payment methods. There was a way to regulate them that way, unlike with the vigilantes who got outlawed first. In Japan, the bounty hunters had a lot of power even when heroes emerged and became a fighting force in the country and main form of law enforcement. In a lot of the world, bounty hunting became illegal quickly after heroes emerged. Heroes replaced them, but Japan's bounty hunter 'guild' was more organized than most and had the power to lobby the government to argue that bounty hunting had helped for years and could continue to do so, assisting the Police Force and heroes rather than being supplanted by them."

Kirishima nodded along slowly though he was finding this as a lot of information to take in all at once. Where's he getting this all from? Do we know this? I've never heard about it…

"Fetto, was the name of a bar in Kyoto," Zach continued to his friend who nodded along quicker now that they were back on something he had heard about. "It was a gathering place for the Japanese bounty hunters. A night club, bar, meeting place where the bounty hunters all got together to take jobs and receive their rewards from the government for tracking down and arresting villains. They made extra sure to capture villains alive, more-so than even heroes back then because they knew how much danger they were in of being replaced. The leaders of the 'guild' back then, just some big shot bounty hunters who knew how to be smart and keep their business running, even started funding bounty hunting guilds in other countries."

"Huh?" Kirishima wondered with is eyebrows lifting.

"They didn't want the pressure on the Japanese government to get too strong from the outside world," Zach explained. "The fewer nations around the world who still allowed for bounty hunting meant danger for them and their livelihoods. So they supported bounty hunters around the world, and all the individual gangs of bounty hunters started to become one large, unofficial 'guild.'" Zach emphasized the word "guild" again and he put up the quotation marks this time in the air with two fingers of each hand. His left arm still had some damage to it as he had not spent any time in the lab today to fix it up, which he remembered when he lifted up his arm. Once he goes to sleep I'll head out and go work in the lab. Don't think anyone should mind.

"So what happened?" Kirishima asked as Zach paused for too long now that the story was getting juicy. "I've never heard of any of this."

"It was back in a time where not too much of our history was recorded," Zach replied with a short shake of his head. "Deals made under the table and villain activity are rarely marked down in history books. And what the bounty hunters were doing became illegal very fast." Kirishima looked confused again, and Zach continued to him, "The guild here in Japan was supporting the bounty hunters around the world. And when other countries would ban bounty hunting, those bounty hunters suddenly lost their jobs if they could not easily become heroes. Foolishly, that did not stop the hunters of Fetto from continuing to fund their old comrades in those nations who were now acting with no protection from the law."

"Sometimes it happened and the bounty hunters just started taking down villains as vigilantes, but without any pay they couldn't keep that up. That was mainly just an attempt to get the governments to go back on their changes and allow them to return to work. No nation ever repealed the laws outlawing bounty hunting after they put them in place though. Even the United States which was usually so lax on people fighting villains themselves declared organized bounty hunting as illegal before Japan did. I don't know if the governments didn't realize what they were doing or if they just didn't care, but I bet you can see where this is leading," Zach said with a nod while looking into Kirishima's eyes.

Shit! Alright, where is this leading? Think fast. He'll think you're stupid otherwise. Kirishima's thoughtful face got deeper and his forehead scrunched as he furled his brow. All those bounty hunters don't have jobs. Do they become villains? The guys were just fighting villains! They only got paid, because everyone needs to get paid. So what? They became homeless? No, they were still being helped by Japan's bounty hunters, right? But that means they kept bounty hunting, if they were being funded to keep going… But if the governments weren't paying- who would?! "Villains, started paying-"

"Exactly," Zach said with a grin spreading across his face fast as Kirishima called it. "There were groups of strong Quirk-trained people in these nations who were used to hunting down villains and arresting them. If the governments weren't paying them to do so though, then some opportunistic villains may notice that these people need a job, and those same villains may have some competition they don't want to go face themselves." Zach paused and took in a deep breath, then he went on in a steady voice with his lips flattening out, "So the bounty hunters continued fighting villains. Only now, they were getting their bounties from sketchier people. Someone goes in with a large briefcase of cash, someone likely not a known villain themselves, and they come up with some kind of sob story about their family and how this is their life savings," Zach held up his right palm and then nodded his head to the side. "And just like that, the bounty hunters have a job again."

"Only they'd be doing it illegally," Kirishima said.

"Not just that," Zach replied. "But the Japanese bounty hunters who were still supporting them were now unknowingly-"

"Helping out villains groups around the world," Kirishima muttered with his expression darkening. Zach nodded his head in response and then shook it with a darker look as well.

"Japan did not change its laws as peacefully as the rest of the world in this instance. The incident at Fetto was, in the bounty hunters' minds, a coup by the heroes who no longer wanted the competition." Kirishima's eyes opened wide and Zach went on in a dark voice, "The heroes investigated Fetto and tracked money to illegal bounty hunter groups around the world who continued fighting villains, but who were now armed and dangerous terrorist groups rather than law enforcement groups. That made Fetto's bounty hunter guild, a villain organization."

"Couldn't they have explained-" Kirishima's voice cut off as Zach's eyes bored into his quietly. "You think, the heroes didn't on purpose- that's not right-"

"Maybe," Zach replied. "It was a while ago, and my sources are biased since I heard this story from bounty hunters and then had it 'verified' by other hunters who had never met the first ones. People in their profession are deep in hiding around the world, because they all know about the crackdown on bounty hunters that happened after Fetto. Can you imagine, the bounty hunters in Japan already dealing with heroes who are getting more and more frustrated that their business still exists? This in a time when bounty hunting had gained a new name as 'heroism' only it's paid for by the government with paychecks rather than as private contractors getting paid with each arrest."

"It was pretty much semantics that separated the groups," Zach said. "Or at least, that's what it sounds like to me." Kirishima nodded slowly as he could admit that sounded about right to him too. "So then when the bounty hunters' club that they go to for work, for drinking and hanging with their friends and coworkers, is suddenly busted into by the heroes looking for a fight…" Kirishima's eyes started growing huge, and Zach said in a much darker voice, "The bounty hunters could only come to the conclusion that the heroes were going to try and pin something on them. They knew all they were guilty of was fighting villains, but heroes had figured out that they were connected to so many international crimes. Rumors are still around that the top bounty hunters of Fetto knew what they were doing, and that they were giving jobs to the other bounty hunters around the world, getting paid by the villains directly and then taking the biggest cuts. Maybe they only gave a small portion of the cash to the actual hunters around the world, claiming that because of the rise of heroes there was a drop in pay."

"Whatever happened," Zach continued in a low voice as he told this mostly unknown secret to Kirishima. "It did not matter which of the bounty hunters knew and which didn't. The crimes were there. And the bounty hunters fought back against the heroes. And a hero died in the altercation." Zach paused and he shook his head with his eyes closing for a moment. "That was the end of that. No amount of lobbying was going to save the rest of them who were not at Fetto at the time. Even some hunters who weren't at the bar were still incriminated on circumstantial evidence regarding the rest of the 'villainous' acts they had supposedly committed. Fetto was used as an example. An example of the danger that bounty hunters posed to a new world order where heroes were the only ones who should be using their Quirks. Everyone else, would just use them irresponsibly. Everyone else," Zach paused and his voice got lower as he finished, "was nothing but a villain."

"But," Zach's voice shifted instantly. He tone made a 180 as he continued, "Not all bounty hunters are bad guys. Even in today's world where they're so deep in the shadows that most people don't even realize they're still a thing. They think of them as like cowboys, vigilantes, or something along those lines."

"Yeah. I never would have thought…" Kirishima paused and he got a confused look on his face. "But wait. If nobody's putting out bounties anymore, other than villains…"

"Then aren't the bounty hunters who still exist working for villains?" Zach wondered to finish Kirishima's question he was still figuring out in his own head. Kirishima nodded back and was glad Zach knew what his misconception was already and had an answer for it. Zach just shrugged though and replied, "That's true." Kirishima's bottom lip dropped and Zach continued to his surprised friend, "Most bounties put out nowadays are put out by villains. There are some governments though who also quietly have someone put out bounties on their behalf. They have to do it far under the radar, because it's technically illegal for them to do it as well. In the days soon after Mongoloid was removed from Saudi Arabia though, bounty hunting surged in the region. It happens whenever there's a lack of heroes. Bounty hunters appear, and they make offers to whoever will pay."

"They offer their help to police. Or they could go in a neighborhood and offer protection for a certain amount of money-"

"They sound like gangsters," Kirishima said coldly.

"Traveling gangsters," Zach corrected, though it was not much of a correction. "Most of the time they do have to strong-arm their way into making some cash. And unfortunately, working for villains most of the time has led many of them to take jobs that have turned them into villains themselves. But I found a few exceptions to the rule. People, who were good-natured and just lived like… Like cowboys." Zach grinned as he said it and chuckled to himself in a way Kirishima could only describe as nostalgic. "A lot of bounties are put on villains by heroes in areas where the heroes are overwhelmed. It's one of the first ways they counter villains in an unheroic way that doesn't necessarily mess with their own moral codes."

"Putting bounties on people doesn't mess with their moral codes?" Kirishima asked skeptically.

"A hero doing it, would most of the time put the bounty out for 'Capture Alive' only. No pay-out if the villain is killed. Either way, it shows the villains that they're being taken seriously and that anything else on top of what they've already done might get the heroes to take even more drastic steps that no villains want the heroes taking." Zach's words were ominous even if his tone stayed the same through that statement.

Kirishima even gulped for some reason that he wondered about afterwards. Heroes around the world got close to losing it didn't they? I feel like I've had it peaceful enough here to still think what you did was so bad, but, but I know there was a lot of bad out there. A lot of heroes died. I guess I'm not surprised that bounty hunting became bigger again, I guess. Kirishima hesitated but nodded at Zach to continue on with this story.

"Some of the 'bounties' heroes put out could also just be rewards for information on villains' whereabouts, or just some assistance with their capture. It's not telling bounty hunters it's alright to fight villains, but if they're only getting the money if the villains are caught then sometimes they fight the villains first then call the heroes in those instances to make sure they're getting paid. In those cases the authorities could just try to catch the hunters though and avoid paying them by saying that they broke the law. It's a risky job." Zach nodded with a look of some respect on his face that Kirishima slowly nodded along with as he could agree with some of that. "Bounty hunting was always in the gray area though. Not right nor wrong. They fight villains and capture them, but it's not an obligation but something they offer to do but only if they get paid. Heroes well, they go on patrol and capture any and every villain, and payment is just… It's glossed over in today's times because of the way we do it. Where it's a salary."

"Hmmm," Kirishima nodded as he tried to make the separation in his own head. It doesn't sound so bad. When he words it like they could just decide not to catch villains though, they seem so much worse. They could decide that though. And charge a ton of money to go after stronger villains. They're not good guys. Gray- I guess they could be considered gray. "Okay… so, do you like bounty hunters or, not?"

"Well I've met quite a few," Zach replied. "Bounty hunters go after villains who the government wants caught in countries where their activities are allowed, which are few and far between. Those are also the countries where villains really like to hide out in though which is why those nations accept the extra help from the hunters hanging around. These are the bounty hunters that are usually the better ones. I met a pair of bounty hunters in a country like that who I wanted to join me, even though at first they had actually come after me."

Kirishima nodded his head in understanding at first but then stopped. "Wait," he began. "I'd get why villains would want to stop you, and I know heroes had to…" Kirishima hesitated and darted his eyes around for a moment before looking back at Zach and lowering his voice. "But why would bounty hunters?"

"My bounty's enormous," Zach replied. Kirishima looked at him in surprise and then with much wider eyes as Zach smirked after a moment as if he was proud of it. "Easily the largest bounty in the world. Why do you think they keep coming after me?"

"I thought, you and Eziano were fighting or-"

"Well that too," Zach cut Kirishima off. Don't lie. "But, the assassins, even under Eziano, they were murderers for hire. They'd have collected the bounties on me, even if they had ulterior more personal motives." Even managed to make it in the past tense. He'll just assume I'm talking about all previous attempts. Pretty manipulative. "Anyway," Zach continued fast before he could get himself down there. "The pair of bounty hunters I met were out for my bounty at first, but admittedly I wasn't actually their primary target at the time. It was pretty early on, so even though I'd made a name for myself, they were too busy for me. I stopped them from taking me down, and they admitted how they were only coming after me so that they could catch the villains who put out those first bounties who actually had legitimate bounties out on them from other countries."

Kirishima nodded along and tracked back what Zach was saying until he understood it. "So, what did you do?" Kirishima wondered.

"What could I do?" Zach wondered back. Kirishima looked confused, and Zach added, "Usually I'd just knock a villain out and call the police or heroes with some anonymous tip about hearing villains fighting at a certain address. If these were bounty hunters who worked for those governments and were tracking down big-type villains, I didn't really have anything to get them charged for. Admittedly, they had come after me in a country where bounty hunting was illegal, but hell, I was doing way more illegal stuff than them." Kirishima frowned but he did nod at Zach in understanding about this explanation at least. Zach stopped with the joking tone as much and continued on a more serious note, "I didn't want to stop them from doing what they were doing."

"As I said, I wanted them to join me. I was even willing to be bait for them so we could draw out the villains who wanted me."

"Did that work?" Kirishima asked.

"Oh yeah," Zach replied with a smirk again though he returned to a serious and steady expression right after. "We took down a villain group together, but they got upset at me when I called the authorities with an anonymous tip of our location. Bounty hunting was illegal in that country too where the villains wanted to meet them to see that they had captured me alive, as my bounty was higher to capture me alive back then…"

Kirishima nodded his head with his eyes getting darker too, as he was quickly able to put together what Zach was saying there with something Zach had told him the night before. Someone finally caught you for real. That's when they sent you to the Pit.

"They had wanted to sneak their bounties out of the country, but it was easier for me to get the whole gang arrested if the big shots in charge were still there and unconscious when the authorities arrived. It was a dick move on my part, to be fair, but I'd hoped they would see it my way and agree to join me. I had thought they were some pretty good guys, but the brothers decided against joining me and we went our separate ways." Zach stopped and his eyes closed for a second. He shook his head and said in a lower voice, "I tried to explain to them that their initial plan was flawed from the start. I thought the villains would just kill the bounty hunters for hunting other villains, because as much as some like to employ the use of the hunters, as a general rule they'd be considered even lower than villains by the rest of the underworld. Ratting information to heroes and turning over villains to the police is as low as you can get, which I know since the villains did not treat us with the same kind of honor codes they showed each other. It was weird, the line that the bounty hunters somehow toed by being useful enough to the villains to not get massacred but also shitty enough that at any time they could have been butchered. It meant that the hunters had to be strong, and I really could have used the Br- I could have used their help in the months to come."

"Before they left though, I did have a talk with them…" Zach trailed off and his eyes closed again. His expression was darker but sad too, and he said in a soft voice as his eyes opened partially and he was looking down at the floor under Kirishima's feet. "I called them back in at a time I really needed their help. I asked if I could and they said they'd consider it, and they were there when I needed them most. In Wampajawa." Zach paused and he mentioned for reference while glancing up into Kirishima's eyes, "The Siege of Razmatan."

That doesn't explain it, Kirishima thought with a sweatdrop as somehow Zach thought that was a clarification.

"They stayed with me after Wampajawa. We had lost a lot of people, and they joined us permanently at that time as we started the world loop. One of the brothers died fighting Fergus, and then the younger one died in India. Then the younger one died again a week later in Tibet when we were ambushed, and the older brother quit a couple days later when he recovered from his wounds at the Battle of the 6 Armies." Zach slowed down and he sighed at the angry but hesitant look in Kirishima's eyes.

"That story you told, at the joint training," Kirishima started. "It wasn't all true… It couldn't have been."

"I know," Zach whispered. "But," he paused and he tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. His eyes clenched shut as the ceiling turned into a black sky full of red lightning and swirling dark-purple holes. He heard horrible screams in his ears that he drowned out with his own voice, "But it was horrible nonetheless. A bad day for everyone. Especially Brady. Burori and Brady weren't blood related, I don't think. They were still brothers though. They were a bit older than us, Burori not that much older." Zach's eyes squinted and he whispered, "And although they were only a part of my forces for under a month, they had become my brothers too. And I let them die, and, Brady survived without his brother and partner. Alone, when he decided to leave us," Zach clenched his eyes shut as he thought of the dead look in Brady's eyes that he could not change as much as he tried to convince him the fight was still worth fighting.

Morale was low those days after the battle. For some though, there was no recovery from it. Zach lifted his right arm and rubbed it across his closed eyes once before lowering his head back down. "Anyway, Kirishima. Bounty hunters are out there. They could be your enemy or they could be a resource you utilize. All depends on the situation."

"And the laws of the country you're in," Kirishima added.

"The situation," Zach repeated, implying that Kirishima's addition was part of what he was talking about. Kirishima lifted the right corner of his lips and nodded back at Zach, glad that Zach considered that part of the "situation" that he would take into account in the future.

Kirishima leaned his head back and let out a long yawn as Zach sounded like he was finished explaining. "What time is it?" Kirishima pulled out his phone and his eyes closed more just at the sight of how late it was. "Don't you think All Might's overdoing it?"

"I think he's asleep," Zach replied with a laugh. "And I'd rather not wake him up by calling or texting right now."

"Wait- what-"

"Just go to bed, Kirishima," Zach said with a chuckle as Kirishima started looking at him in surprise and then frustratedly as it seemed to him like Zach had thought All Might was asleep for a while now. "I don't think there's anything left for us to clean tonight, and we've got to start up again early tomorrow."

"You… ugh, yeah whatever," Kirishima shrugged his shoulders and rolled his arms out. "I'm beat."

"Feeling a bit sore from last night?" Zach wondered as Kirishima turned his back to head upstairs.

"Not at all. Cleaning all day was tougher than that," Kirishima retorted.

"Sure," Zach remarked sarcastically back at him. I cracked your Unbreakable. Didn't hit you too hard though- or hard enough when you weren't guarding. Bet you still feel it though.

Kirisihima looked back at Zach and gave him a confused look. Zach was not following him though even after telling his friend to go to bed. Kirishima realized it as he looked back that the wording was 'just go to bed' as if Zach was suggesting he alone do it. "I'm going to head to the Costume Development Lab. Do some work on my arm. The only damage I've got," he added, still in a joking tone from the conversation they were just having.

Because you're not going to sleep, Kirishima thought though when Zach tried making light of what he was going to head to do now. The redhead nodded at Zach and turned away to head upstairs on his own. You really, don't sleep? You don't seem tired at all. That's weird- that sucks. Kirishima frowned deeper when he actually thought that it was 'weird' for a moment. Another reminder of all you've done. I don't need to arrest you. No one does. Hell, I still don't know what made you scream like that. The "Siege of Razmatan?" The "Battle of the 6 Armies?" And, the "world loop?" Why don't I understand any of it? Why can't you… Just telling me about bounty hunting, must have felt like a safe topic.

And by the end of even a safe topic he was still…

Zach stepped out of the dorm and he leaned his back against the front door he walked out of. His eyes closed and he couldn't get the Brothers out of his head. They didn't even want to join me. Brady knew how dangerous it was when I first asked him to. He told me to fuck off for stealing their bounty, but he didn't leave it like that. I wouldn't have asked him to come when I call, if he didn't tell me how he thought we were all going to die doing what we were doing. There was no point in you saying it if you didn't want us to live. If you weren't trying to warn us. You liked what we were doing but thought we'd be wiped out by the massive underworld we were getting ourselves into.

But you changed your mind. Burori helped you change it. You two, were strong enough to survive Wampajawa. You fucking- Zach's fists curled and he saw Brady for the last time staring at him with those dead eyes he had seen before. It was after the Battle of 6 Armies. I could have slowed for a second. I could have talked to you longer. I could have tried, anything. "We found him in the showers. It's his second time, right?" I just had too much on my plate- that's no excuse. I should have known you were- I did know. I knew it the second I saw that look in your eyes. I- I ignored it. Zach's eyes squinted in the dark as he started walking away from the front door of his dorm.

His eyes filled with water and he shook his head around. He was your actual brother. I- I didn't know how to-

I should have done more. I let you down. I let you all-

---

On the second day of their suspension/ house arrest, All Might came out to Training Ground Xi during his lunch break with a couple of paper bags in his hands. Their current supervisor went for a break while All Might gave the two students a break of their own, apologizing to them again as he had that morning when he woke up and realized he never told them they could stop their chores from the night before. "You more than made up for it," Zach said as he dug into the takeout fried rice from Lai Lao's, a Chinese place not far from his childhood home that he recognized the smell of before he even saw the packaging.

Come on, Zach broke apart the chopsticks and took the first bite. "Mmm," he hummed and nodded his head with his eyes closing. Not bad. It tastes- It tastes! Maybe not as good as before, but I definitely taste it. The nostalgia at least, though the special sauce's flavor is there. "Oh God," he mumbled while shoving a much larger second bite into his mouth.

Kirishima and All Might both looked to where Zach was sitting on the sidewalk ledge to their right. They each had similar expressions questioning whether or not Zach was being sarcastically over the top in his gratitude or if this was really something he enjoyed that much. Kirishima rose his eyebrows as he was pretty sure Zach was actually enjoying it, and he opened his own box and dug into the rice himself. "Mm. This is good."

"Did you get from Lai Lao's since it was close to my old place?" Zach wondered with a glance up from the rice to their homeroom teacher.

"Ah, well I…" All Might stopped himself. Sazaki would know anyway. He thought about saying how he just enjoyed the place himself and forgot that Sazaki lived near there, but truthfully he had gone in the direction of Sazaki's old place in Musutafu in hopes that the boy might enjoy it more. "I thought you might have had a favorite place growing up. I'm glad you like it."

"It's great," Zach replied with a brighter smile at his teacher. He looked back down at his food and dug into it. Show a nostalgic look, and hum again. Quieter this time like you're keeping it in check now that it's been noticed. Really show All Might some appreciation for this. Might be the most heroic thing he's done in a while. Must suck to be in his shoes. Watching as his young students go out into danger every day, and he can't do a thing to help them out there. I'm not just "showing" him appreciation! Come on, I'm appreciative. He put in effort to get me something he thought I would like, and I tasted it. He didn't just try to help me. He helped me. I appreciate that. And I certainly don't overthink being appreciative about it. It's filler- that I need right now.

Why? Filling your head with white noise was important when only most of the walls were down. Kirishima destroyed the rest! It's all okay now. Just, think normally. Calmly. This isn't how normal people think. Food's good though, Zach took another bite and stopped trying so hard. One step at a time. "Wh-y? Raghs-bbasgh-" Zach watched as his hand pulled the knife out of his enemy's throat, and her raspy voice gargling blood faded from his head as her body dropped in his mind. I should give Himazuri a call.

Why'd I think that? She would have been able to see that, and I know I'm never going to bring it up on my own. That was a quick answer. What was the point in asking then- You know. Shut up. Just call her. "Hey, you guys mind if I make a call?" Zach wondered. He looked to his left to see if either of the other two had an issue with it.

Kirishima shook his head and continued digging into his own food. All Might stared hesitantly at his student for another second before nodding as well, "Be quick though. You should be in class right now. You would not be making calls there, and it doesn't seem right you should make one while under-"

"I'll make it fast," Zach promised, as it seemed like All Might was about to talk himself out of his initial response. He got up and walked away, while adding internally to himself, Also, your lunch break lined up with ours. Just like it lines up with Class 1's, Zach scrolled through his contacts and tapped on Hikari Himazuri's name.

Himazuri was in the middle of a call with Drivress and Holy Hamster, but she put the two older heroes on hold a second after seeing who was interrupting the call. Her pro opened her mouth but Drivress lifted her eyebrows up as Himazuri's line cut off suddenly without the girl waiting for a reply. Himazuri herself winced as she pressed the accept button for Zach's call, Probably going to pay for that later. Paperwork duty all- Himazuri smiled and her thoughts cut off from the negative tone they were in that she could not keep as she heard the boy on the other end wonder, "Himazuri?"

"Hey Zach! How are you doing? How's being back at U.A.? Wait- did you need something? Why are you calling?"

"Doing pretty well," Zach started responding. "I'm happy to be back at U.A. Didn't really need anything in particular. Just wanted to call and see how you're doing and how your mental training's keeping up."

"Oh, oh!" Himazuri smiled ear to ear at the response as she thought about it a second time in her head. "Well I've actually been pretty busy with Drivress outside of school, so I haven't had much time for private practical training sessions to really hone in those techniques you taught me."

"Well, what we worked on you picked up fast," Zach started back to her. "You shouldn't leave it all for later though. I doubt things are going to get any less busy any time soon. Might be even harder after graduation to find time for it," Zach advised. He tilted his head back with a small smile as she hesitated like what he said made her think about it. His smile lowered down though as he thought about "after graduation" himself and how little time there would be then to have a conversation like this-

"I didn't really, think about that. You're right though. Once I graduate I want to already have all those techniques down, since I'm sure I'll be fighting a lot more villains." Himazuri reached her right hand up and ran it back through her hair. "I bet if I put some time aside tonight… I can come up with a schedule, where I could figure out a few times each week to focus solely on our training."

"Haha, that's great. You should totally do that," Zach agreed. Glad she didn't just mention doing it tonight. That wouldn't be a very sustainable method of training up. She's smart though. "Anyway, how is everyone-

"Everyone's bummed out that you're not around anymore," Himazuri replied quickly and with a groan herself in the sentence. Zach smiled softly again and closed his eyes. "We all got so used to you being around."

Zach cracked his smile a little bigger. "Really?" He wondered skeptically back at her.

Himazuri paused for a few seconds. "Alright no," she admitted. "It was still crazy having you be in our class. Like, every day I could still hear people thinking 'I can't believe Lifebringer's in our class,' or 'I can't believe Lifebringer's eating lunch next to me,' or 'I can't believe Lifebringer just kicked my-' …well, you get the picture."

Zach laughed and started responding to Himazuri, though his mind split off on another track even as he was still partially focused on their conversation. This is cool. I should call Roady after this. Why? Eh, why not? I'll do it later at least. Sometime no one's watching me. Nezu will probably notice a call going out, but I doubt he's recording or even listening to everything. It was the nature of Rebel's call. The method he used. Even if Principal Nezu is listening- no, that's weird. I can't ask him to stop though. He knows who I was. Or that I had once been, but I wasn't- Zach Sazaki wasn't-

Damn I'm glad Himazuri's not reading my mind right now. Zach smiled and responded to the girl again on the phone with him. That's one thing I don't think I could explain, even to her.

---

"You did what?!" Urukio Endo shouted at his phone. He froze after saying it and darted his eyes around at the others in the agency with him, then he lowered his voice a little and muttered, "I didn't think they'd give you a second-second chance. More like a fifteenth chance now," Roady corrected himself. The spiky-haired hero ran his right hand up through his orange spikes and grimaced before steadying his expression. In the right corner of his eyes he could see Ryukyu watching him, though his eyes were forward at the younger woman in front of him whose light orange eyes stared right back into his.

"So hey I was in Rairosu the other day," Roady started up, turning and pacing to the side as he changed up the conversation. "I went back to that warehouse you brought me to."

"I didn't empty everything out because of you, if that's what you're wondering." Zach leaned back on the wall of the third floor of Class A's dorm, right next to the stairwell so he could hear if anyone was coming up or down the stairs. His voice stayed low so his classmates in their rooms would not notice he was out there, though even after school there was barely anyone around. "After getting kicked out of Shiketsu I cleaned house. Anywhere that my enemies might consider being somewhere I stick around or a place of mine had to be completely swept clean of my presence."

Roady hummed and nodded his head in understanding. He thought about how Zach was kicked out of Shiketsu after a missile was sent at the city of Yutapu, and it made sense that Zach would have gotten that much more cautious after that. "What about those guys?"

"I helped them best I could," Zach replied. "But they didn't rely on me. I made sure they wouldn't. What, you worried about R.J.? I'm sure he'd be all tickled to hear it."

"Shut it. Out of them all, that guy rubbed me the wrong way. All his talk, about the mob," Roady specified.

He's upset. His tone sounded dismissive of how I'm in trouble here. Too quick to move past the conversation, Zach leaned back more on the wall next to the stairwell. He sighed internally while keeping his voice steady, even as his eyes saddened at the inferences he was making rapidly and without the ability to stop himself. He's been brought in on the investigation.

Inside Ryukyu's agency, Popfire rose her hands and made circular motions in front of herself for Roady to keep talking. Zach was the one speaking though and Roady lifted his palm to get his wife to stop when Zach was already talking without needing to be pushed any farther. Roady's eyes darkened at what Zach was talking about, confirming things that both R.J. had brought to his attention and that Ryukyu had informed him about when she brought their entire agency into this investigation a couple days earlier. Nothing he's saying is per-se illegal. R.J. made it clear the Italian mob was legit. He mentioned specifically that Don Gino though was the one who called him, after Zach got shot.

R.J. has a big mouth. Roady's a good- a great hero. He's always been against every extra-legal action I've ever taken. Working as a hero with him on that Nakahara murder case might have made him think I'm Death. It definitely showed him I'm good. I don't think he thought I was Death after that though. If anything, I think he just believed that I was using the fact that everyone thinks I'm Death. Or at least he knows it's a possibility that's the case.

What the heroes know about Italy keeps them from coming after me, Zach thought while staring down the boys' side of the third floor hallway. I was Zach Sazaki in Italy. I wasn't careful about revealing my Italian incursion at all. It was one of the first things I explained to Midoriya. I called in Metallore directly and we had a conversation. Lots of people saw me there. It works perfectly, even if I didn't know I'd be using it back then. Italy became central to my cover story. My actions there can only be considered illegal due to the fact that I was on the run at the time. Yet my trial took that into account. They dropped the charges of me fleeing the country, ignoring international borders and such, and I was only charged with the murders even though they already knew about those other things.

What crimes could they charge me on in Italy? Nothing. Nothing at all. And my presence there contrasts what they think Death was doing at the same time. Gentle going around while I was incarcerated and telling people he saved to say that he revived them is useful. That surveillance footage from Mississippi… It's not that I didn't know there was a camera was there. So why? Why did I let it see my face? Did I not want people thinking I was Death? I had no way of knowing the place was going to get robbed so the security footage would get released months later. It doesn't make sense. It's another reason I fit Terra into a 7 month frame though. Between the convenience store footage and Italy. Everything that happened in between was, it was unverifiable.

But I have the feeling that information about The Pit has gotten loose out there. It's the way Jirou started looking at me. Maybe I should be glad, he thought it with his lips flat, and he just nodded his head while Roady responded to him in an annoyed and frustrated way about Zach's methods of doing things in Italy that he had explained in the safest way he could. I told him exactly what the heroes should have. Information that they can barely verify themselves. What Metallore might have told them. It's all circumstantial.

"Oh shi- hey Roady. I gotta go. I'm not supposed to be on the phone and someone's coming."

"You're just- damn, fine. But you better stay there until you graduate." Roady said it and paused for a second. He knew all the eyes of the people around the agency were on him, but he frowned and finished anyway, "We'll finish this when you're a pro too."

"Kay, bye." Zach hung up as if he really had someone walking up on him.

Endo's eyes widened and he frowned deeper and in more annoyance, though he hesitated when he pulled his phone back and glared at it. He is in trouble, Roady reminded himself. He lowered his phone and looked at Popfire who gave him a soft and understanding look back. Then he turned to the pro who he worked for though and shrugged at Ryukyu while shaking his head. "Nothing," he told her.

"You should have attempted to get something we didn't already know," Ryukyu scolded back with a deeper frown than Roady's, not appreciating his shrug.

"I'm in on this investigation," Roady told her. His shoulders relaxed and his arms were down at his sides. He stared back at his boss with a serious look and continued, "And I agree the evidence is pointing at Zach, but if the kid's really innocent, I don't want to screw him up more by accusing him."

You really are Death, Roady thought while sliding his phone back in his pocket. He nodded at Ryukyu when she gave him a look of acceptance back for that sentiment, then she turned and started calling out to other sidekicks to get to work on this latest investigation their agency was taking on with full force. Roady sighed and tilted his head back as he felt how heavy his shoulders just got. I wasn't sure, but there's so much evidence. Even that surveillance footage from Korea. I saw how good your disguises could be. No one recognized you at Xilovic's. I could see that American villain being you in disguise. Underlord. Death. Lifebringer. And the Champion of the Pit. Fucking hell man, and an honest-to-goodness Italian gangster.

That Pit though. It throws off your story if it's true. I don't get how a place like that is kept under wraps. Roady hummed to himself, then his eyes lowered to the woman with long black hair who stepped in front of him and held out her hand. Popfire grabbed his right hand down at his side and gave it an encouraging squeeze. He sighed and then took in a long breath, before nodding back at her and giving back a serious and focused look. But how much it must have fucked you up if it's true. Seems like every hero in the country's gonna turn against you at this rate. The evidence is mounting. Lemillion's leaning on everyone, and now there's heavy international pressure too.

And your friend who stole Flamedrag and killed Fantasma is gunning for you. The whole League's back and you're in their crosshairs. You're in that Eziano Mozcaccio's line of fire, and Pop thinks he's the most dangerous guy in the world. Roady's calmed look ready to focus on their missions and get back to work faltered. It faltered and in his head he saw the kid in the antique Honda Civic with him, joking at his expense and him punching him back on the shoulder after he had hit him. Every hero and every villain. Against you…

---

Zach and Kirishima finished fixing up Training Ground Xi on only the second day of their house arrest. That did not give them a break, as All Might found more for them to do. Their homeroom teacher checked their dorm to see if they missed a spot, but the boys were already washing the outer walls of the building as they had run out of stuff to clean inside the building. They used a power hose with high pressure that they asked Yaoyorozu for earlier, and the exterior walls of their dorm were looking cleaner than they had in years.

It was still too cold at night to continue up working out there late into the night. The chilly March air forced the boys inside where they got back to cleaning the common room that had been used all afternoon by their classmates mostly back today. It was odd considering how much time they were all spending out with their pros' agencies, but few had left that day and all of them had returned already so everyone was back at the dorm early that night.

Sero and Sato had brought Zach and Kirishima some dinner too, "letting them" continue their power-washing without having to take any breaks, which the two snickered about when Zach and Kirishima unenthusiastically thanked them. Those two were still downstairs in the common area when Zach and Kirishima came back inside. The two who missed class for the second day in a row walked by the tables between the couches and the kitchen, and they looked to where Yaoyorozu was helping five of their other classmates with a very tough subject for most of them. The two laborers tilted their heads to look around the others between them and Yaoyorozu, and without taking her eyes off the others, Yaoyorozu slid her left hand along the table and tapped on a few pieces of paper underneath the book she was teaching the others from.

Zach lifted his eyes up from that page and smiled at the girl who did not meet his eyes. He knew she saw him though, and he turned to Kirishima and motioned farther to the kitchen so Kirishima would not say anything about it and distract from the others' work. Kirishima nodded in agreement, though the redhead yawned and then grimaced as he wondered when he could get this make-up studying in when he was already exhausted from the night before.

Aoyama scratched the back of his head while leaning over the table from the seat across from Yaoyorozu's. His face lit up and he lifted his pink pen, then his smile flipped and he slouched in the chair with an overly loud sigh as what he thought he just picked up on did not match what her answers showed. Ashido tilted her head to the right and rested it on her shoulder, sighing and glancing to her other side where Hagakure was biting on the back of her own pen and fidgeting with it as she struggled too. Her head rose though and she looked across the table from her where her boyfriend was writing something down quickly, looking back up at Momo, and then going back into his notes again. Toru stopped biting on her pen and got back to taking extra notes quickly, Focus!

Mineta leaned back on the center couch of the common room and let out a loud sigh of relief and relaxation. He stretched his arms up over his head in a cocky way showing off how relaxed he was and how he was not studying like the people behind him who 'just didn't get it' like he did. He bent his arms and put his hands together behind the purple balls on his head as he leaned back into the soft cushions. Tsuyu Asui frowned to her left at the slightly taller boy sitting next to her, though her eyes shifted from Mineta's cocky expression to the arms he had bent at either side of his head that she noticed when his short sleeves rode up a bit from the way he rose his arms like that. Huh, she thought as she noticed the short boy's muscles, a confused look flashing on her face for a second before she darted her eyes quickly to the television when she saw the shortest boy in the class dart his eyes over to try and catch her staring.

Tsu's totally noticed! Mineta thought, while holding back the smirk that would give away that he totally did that motion on purpose.

Standing next to the wall separating their common area from the courtyard, Midoriya, Tokoyami, Todoroki, and Bakugo were discussing their recent raid with Iida, Shoji, and Uraraka. There was not much they were hiding from their friends as they theorized where the other Radians could be and bounced ideas off each other based on clues they saw at the last base they attacked. The four who had been at the raid were all working with the heroes most people in the country now recognized as #1, 2, and 3 in the nation. The only thing the four were really keeping from their classmates was the involvement of Gran Torino who had kept his name from being mentioned by the other heroes when he left before the press arrived. His private investigation was intended to stay under the radar, and the four boys who he told that to were taking no risks so they kept it to themselves as well.

Koda and Jirou came down the stairs together talking about something, but the two of them lifted their gazes and stared into the couch area when the tv suddenly cut to black. Mineta and Tsuyu each refocused as the screen cut off from the program to black for a second, before a spinning 'BREAKING NEWS' graphic appeared on the screen getting bigger with red and yellow lines flashing out of it. Sero sat back up from the couch he was leaning back on with his phone out in front of his face that he was watching carefully, and he lowered it with a grim look on his face. I hope it's not about, Sero frowned deeper and gulped as he had just had a very bad feeling about some of the news he was reading. It's way worse than I realized.

Zach looked over from farther away from the tv than most others on the first floor. He stared past his classmates to the tv right before Mineta called at the others to come look, and his eyes narrowed making Kirishima stop talking to him and turn around to see what was going on. I wasn't paying enough attention. Gondorhan and Kaminari were my top priorities. Zach's eyes glowed a low red as he started walking towards the television that Asui was turning up the volume of.

"Hey, that's Szechy," Ashido said while running up behind the couch. A part of her was glad she could get a break from Momo's lectures, even though she had begged to get them in the first place when she found herself leaving a class with zero idea of what was just taught earlier that day. Both Hagakure and Ojiro looked to their lefts at the pink girl who noticed them giving her weird looks for calling the number 2 hero in China by that name. "All Tight had a video call with him once that I was on. He's a fun guy!"

"Doesn't seem like he's in a 'fun' mood right now," Tokoyami said in a low voice.

Spicy Hero: Szechuman was standing behind a podium just on the left side of it from the camera's point of view. On the right side of that podium was a man in a black professional suit who did not look like a hero but seemed somewhat important, and Todoroki mentioned for his classmates who might not know him, "That's Pi Leng. Governor of the Gangwe region in China."

Bakugo darted a look to his right at the half-and-half bastard next to him who somehow knew that. He did not dwell on it for long though, refacing the screen fully while reminding himself, If he's kept up on what's happening in Gangwe, it makes sense he might recognize the guy. What the fuck's going on?

Another hero stepped into the frame after the screen cut to showing this stage and the two on it out of nowhere interrupting regular programming in Japan. This hero was someone everyone in the room recognized, as Yue Fei had been named as the Number 1 rank of all Chinese heroes in January for this year. The Loyal Hero wore his costume that made him look like a traditional Chinese general. He wore a complete set of armor including a black helmet that had the facemask part opened up but showing that he had on the same kind of blue surgical mask on as the governor and fellow hero behind him. After Todoroki mentioned Gangwe, most of the Class A students knew what this was going to be about. Seeing the masks already gave it away, but most of the students there did not feel the severity of the news coming out of China until this moment as both of the top two heroes in China appeared on stage wearing those masks.

Yue Fei stepped into the frame wearing his armor and the red cape that flapped behind him as he stepped to the podium and turned to stand behind it. He reached up wearing a glove on his right hand that he lowered his mask with so his mouth could be seen as he spoke. Seeing one's mouth move helped ensure that their words could be understood as clearly as possible, and Yue Fei needed this message to get out. The normal broadcasting in Japan had cut off for this urgent message, but Zach stared at the screen with his eyes glowing and thought, This is being broadcasted everywhere. Not just in Japan.

"People of the world," Yue Fei began in English. It was the language spoken most in the world, though subtitles automatically appeared on bottom of the screen for the Japanese students watching. All of them had been taking English for years though and just continued focusing on Yue Fei's face as he continued. "As many of you already know, a novel virus has been spreading across southern China from the epicenter here in the Gangwe. This mysterious virus's origins have now been discovered, and it has become clear that the virus is man-made in origin. And, I have uncovered evidence that links this man-made virus to the incident in Gondorhan."

"Whoa-" the breath pushed out of Mineta's lungs as he heard that stated to everyone in the world.

Sero's jaw dropped. Even the worst thing I imagined, wasn't even… Oh shit. Both of his hands lifted and pushed back through his hair in shock.

Why announce that to everyone? Zach wondered more calmly than most of his classmates. Unless the situation is that dire, he's just caused the most intense panic in the affected regions. I wasn't paying much attention. I didn't think it had anything to do with Gondorhan though. That was more than just a hunch. Something's going on.

Koda turned his head and looked towards Zach who had countered him the other day in their class groupchat on the spreading disease in China being related to Gondorhan. His eyes quickly darted back to the tv as he caught a glimpse of Zach's glowing red eyes glaring straight at the screen and how intense the expression on his face was.

"Fortunately, the team of both Chinese and international doctors and scientists who have come together to assist with this outbreak have found evidence that there is no community spread of the as-of-yet unnamed virus," Yue Fei continued to everyone watching the announcement being broadcasted globally. "It does not spread from coughs or sneezes, rather we believe the virus is inside a gas that current speculation points to being originated from a Quirk, due to its irregularity. It is very possible that this is an ongoing terrorist attack, and now that it has occurred in both China and the United States, it requires an international response."

That's it, Zach realized and nodded his head in understanding as his eyes focused even more on the screen. His fists clenched and he steadied his heart rate. It makes sense. Yue Fei needs the mass resources and assistance to fight this cataclysmic event that could destroy the whole of China if left unchecked. An invisible enemy. It's beyond dangerous. To do something like this shows that they have no control over the situation too.

"The total fatality rate of those infected is currently at 28 percent. Another 52 fatalities have occurred within the past twenty four hours." Yue Fei's expression was serious and his words kept all of Class A silent as they watched the top Chinese hero make his announcement. "Due to the exponential growth of this epidemic, I have requested aid from around the world. This global broadcast is only the first of the interconnected international responses, and I thank those around the world who have given me this moment to address everyone and convey the severity of the situation. I also want to announce, that an international response team is already on its way to Gangwe to land at XAX in the currently uninfected city of Xing. This team consists of the top scientific experts in epidemiology, doctors who have faced epidemics in the past, as well as the first of many international teams of heroes that I am formally requesting from the rest of the world now."

Yaoyorozu's eyes widened and then narrowed quickly as she stared at China's top hero who was making this request. They're already overwhelmed? 28 percent fatality is horrific. The death toll is still so low though, and if it isn't spreading- except they haven't caught the culprits. It's an ongoing attack. The villains causing it are on a rampage slaughtering civilians and the heroes are losing control of the situation.

"The first international team of heroes are on their way from bordering nations of China who first offered their assistance. We appreciate the Mongolian, Thai, Indian, and Nepali heroes who are arriving tonight. However, I make this plea to the international community right now. We need help. Our enemies have appeared out of nowhere, and we know little about them."

Either they really know nothing at all, or they're hoping to put the villains off their guard for an imminent attack, Zach thought as Yue Fei was opening his mouth to continue onto the next sentence.

"This is no time to be proud. I admit that I am not enough to handle this situation on my own. I do not believe that with the assistance of only Chinese heroes and those of our closest neighbors, will we be able to end this epidemic before it becomes a tragedy of a scale as of yet undetermined, but which I believe could be the worst tragedy China has seen since the dawn of Quirks." Yue Fei did not mince words, yet as much as his words could be seen as causing fear, he did not finish without causing sign for hope. "I know, that you will answer."

"Heroes of the world, gather together and contact me or my government. Get here as quickly as you can. Help us before it is too late. I make this call to all heroes of the world and their governments. We are in this together," Yue Fei stared straight at the camera and took in another deep breath. He looked as intense as ever, but he did hesitate this time before continuing.

Jedenwurst started something, Zach thought with a grin and a hum of approval. I wonder if Yue Fei would have done something like this as quickly if not for the press conference the other day that-

"I specifically make this call to Lifebringer," Yue Fei continued.

Zach's lips flattened instantly and his heart rate shot up. Everyone around the common area of Class A looked back towards where Zach was standing farther away from the tv than most of them. Kirishima glanced to his side with his eyes widened much more than Zach's had at hearing him be requested directly. Out of every hero in the world, Kirishima thought. His amazed thought process trailed off at the insanely intense look in Zach's eyes that did not glow very much though they were pure red as his thoughts raced a mile a second.

"…Even if our teams of scientists and doctors can come up with a cure within a single month, thousands will still die." Yue Fei paused and then continued in a serious and dark voice, "The disease does not discriminate. Young children and senior citizens have fared equally poorly to the virus. They will continue to die, and there is nothing we can do to help them after they have reached a certain point, other than make their passing as painless as possible. But Lifebringer can revive them."

"I make this request to Prime Minister Nikko, to Principal Nezu of U.A. High School, and to Lifebringer himself. We need your help."

"This will be one of the worst tragedies in Chinese history if left unchecked," Yue Fei stated immediately after calling for Lifebringer's assistance. "And it needs to be stopped as soon as possible, through a coordinated and united response of the best and brightest in the world. The rise in deaths over the past few days is exponential, from four days ago when this unknown disease killed its first victim, to entering the double digits yesterday, to almost breaking a hundred fatalities total after today. This increase will go from the double digits to triple, to quadruple digits within a week. It needs to be stopped now. There is no other way. It has to be the entire world. Together we can stop any enemy."

"Only be working together, will it be possible for us to save the world."

---

"I don't trust you, Sazaki. I have no confidence that you will act as a hero while overseas."

"I need to go."

"You would be representing yourself, but also U.A., and the nation of Japan as a whole. If you were to act in a way-"

"Principal Nezu. If I do anything you see as unfit for a hero, then expel me on the spot, even if I'm in China at the time of your decision. I need your permission. And yet, I am going."

Zach sat back on the seat of the airplane headed across the East China Sea southwards but also a bit to the west. His eyes were focused out the window and his hands were together in front of his chest. He had his elbows down on the armrests and his eyes narrowed at the morning sky that was lighting up despite their team leaving U.A. before dawn. He put his chin down on his interlocked fingers and stared out over the sea of clouds below them. It's not a long flight. This private jet is fast too. I'm going to have to revive a bunch of people. Focus on anything else. The entire time too. Just don't think about it.

"…You know, Sazaki, I made that rule for your sake. You do not have to leave U.A. I have given you an out."

"…I know." Could I have just stayed behind? Everyone looked at me. China asked, and I had to answer. I couldn't stay put! Not when they all looked at me like- That's not the reason I came. That has nothing to do with it, you're just doubting your reasons now. It's to help these people. My life doesn't just have a few goals that will one day be finished and that's it. Life has twists and turns. I didn't expect Gondorhan. I didn't expect this. These weren't part of any plans. I have to adapt. Adjust my plans. React and respond. And if while I'm gone Kaminari makes moves in Japan, the heroes staying behind will take them on until I come back.

Zach sat near the front of the private jet owned by U.A. High School. He was on the right side of the plane sitting two rows back from the short hallway connecting to the cockpit. The door to the cockpit opened up and Ectoplasm stepped out of it. The pro hero and teacher walked down the hall past the bathroom and stopped at the front of the cabin that was not half filled. He put his hands on the walls to either side to steady himself as the plane shook a bit in the air, then he announced to his students who were all staring ahead at the scary-looking math teacher in an all-black costume except for some yellow highlights and the trench coat he had over it. "We're thirty minutes out. Officer Riekers just got word from the tower at XAX that there's already a huge crowd forming outside the airport. News of our arrival has created a lot of unneeded fanfare."

The teacher's gruff tone and annoyed voice showed where he stood on dealing with the media circus they were likely dropping in to. Zach tilted his head to the side though with his lips furling in disagreement, though he kept his mouth shut while looking back to his right and out the windows. They should make a huge deal out of it. If the buzz is excitement that everyone is responding, it'll ease the Chinese people's concerns. And if the media catches a huge excited greeting to our arrivals, the whole world will get an optimistic message from it. Keeping everyone calm. As long as we can solve everything within a few days, the mood won't shift. The measures being taken right now are being criticized for being so over-the-top, but even this proactivity will be seen as taken too late if we fail, or even if we just take too long.

"People need to see that we're here to answer Yue Fei's call," Kendo said, leaning into the aisle and speaking towards the math teacher none of them had anymore now that they were in more advanced calculus classes. The Class B representative had two of her classmates on the plane with her, which along with the five Class A students made for 8 students altogether in the first half of the Japanese team on the U.A. plane. Other than the students and staff, there were a few heroes on board from Musutafu solely because it was easier for them to come with the U.A. group than with the second plane leaving later that morning with the rest of the Japanese heroes responding to the call.

Everyone looked towards Kendo who smiled around at them and said encouragingly, "The more people who show up the better. If the disease is not spreading person-to-person, there isn't an issue with there being a big crowd. Plus, our confidence will be contagious and make-"

"Contagious?" Mt. Lady asked, before covering her mouth with her right hand as she had blurted it out without thinking of an internal filter. Kamui Woods lifted a hand of his own though he put it to the side of his face and turned away from his wife who spun to him with her jaw dropping behind her hand as he looked away as if he did not know her. "Sorry!" Mt. Lady threw her hands up apologetically.

"This is serious you know?" Backdraft wondered towards the blonde woman a seat in front of him and across the aisle. She glanced back with a sweatdrop on the side of her face, and she opened her mouth to apologize again for the immature joke that even had most of the students on the plane looking at her with eyebrows raised and disapproving looks. Zach had not turned around to look at Mt. Lady, and Ectoplasm only went slack-jawed when he saw the big grin that covered Sazaki's face instantly upon Mt. Lady interrupting Kendo.

"Actually," Kendo began after everyone stopped to stare for a moment. She smiled at the older hero who looked back at her in surprise, and Kendo finished to her, "I think that's the right attitude to have. At least in front of everyone when we arrive. Let's keep it lighthearted," she suggested with a look around at her fellow classmates and heroes. "If we look confident that we're going to deal with this quickly, it will make everyone feel better and keep our problems limited to the disease and the terrorists spreading it."

"Makes sense," Shinso Hitoshi agreed.

Midoriya spun and stared across the aisle at the Class B student agreeing with that in shock. Shinso frowned deeper and shifted his gaze to the corners to glare at Midoriya for looking at him in so much surprise to hear that. "What? She's right."

"Y-Yeah," Midoriya agreed. Is Shinso going to smile for everyone? Without his costume, his mouth is totally exposed!

"Along the same lines then," Ectoplasm continued to the students who all refaced him. He looked at the teens in their gray school uniforms and shook his head, "We're not going to be staying at the airport for long. The Chinese heroes want us moving from XAX straight to the front lines. We're not stopping at the command center in Xing. Yue Fei will brief us via hologram at the forward tent in Fundong."

Right into the epicenter. First death and sixty-five percent of the following infections, Zach thought, though his mind was also switching focus a bit as Ectoplasm lifted a remote.

"That being said, the rule regarding traveling in your school uniform is cut short. There are two bathrooms," Ectoplasm pressed a button that made the upper compartments above the seats start lowering down. Seven of the students got up and looked for the boxes they were told were packed but that they did not bring on board themselves. "Get into your hero costumes," Ectoplasm ordered the group of students he was "chaperoning" on this mission.

Kendo saw her box with the number 5 on it and moved its direction, though she glanced around to see if anyone else was going for it. Shinso was not as considerate, and he grabbed a box numbered 21 and took it down before hearing a throat clear behind him. Shinso turned and looked at the girl his own height who held up another box numbered 21, "I believe this one is yours, Shinso-san."

"How can you tell?" Shinso wondered, though he was trading off the box he grabbed for the one in Yaoyorozu's hands without arguing about it.

"The weight. Yours is slightly lighter than my own," Yaoyorozu replied.

"Huh," Shinso nodded and grabbed his own box, though he thought to himself after taking it, I don't feel the difference.

Ectoplasm looked down at the student on his left who did not get up out of his seat like the others. This whole situation is off, the teacher thought. The virus is too new for this kind of mass response. We don't know enough about the situation to bring in students. Can only justify sending Lifebringer if we send a whole group of students though; an official response by a leading hero institution, rather than sending one teenager in alone. "Sazaki," Ectoplasm began.

Ectoplasm-sensei is going to be watching me closely. Midoriya's also thinking about it though. He's been nervous for a while now. He knows that I've stabilized Ares' power. He wonders how much stronger I am, Zach nodded at his teacher for Ectoplasm to continue.

"We won't be stopping on our way down to Fundong. Get yourself ready," Ectoplasm nodded up and farther back in the plane. Zach turned his head and got up out of his seat. Others in the plane looked over to the box numbered 13 that was still in its overhead compartment. "Principal Memuria finally sent it over, and just in time too."

"Thank you, sensei," Zach said with an appreciative look back at Ectoplasm.

Midoriya looked back to the box he was holding after glancing Zach's way for a moment. He took in a deep breath and released it calmly before turning and shaking his head at Hiryu Rin, letting the Class B student get changed first. Rin anxiously nodded back then headed trepidatiously for the bathroom. Midoriya watched him for a second and took in another deep breath, Rin's going home. It's horrible he's from southern China, but at least his town hasn't seen any infections yet. I don't think that's it though. It's the pressure. I feel it too, though it must be different for him…

Principal Nezu couldn't come himself to watch Zach. He can't leave Japan undefended for this mission. It's why Endeavor, Hawks, and Lemillion are all remaining in the country while this vital operation goes on. Midoriya glanced to his side and saw Todoroki looking into his opened costume box and staring intensely at the contents. We have to represent the nation with all eyes on us. This is bigger than anything we've ever dealt with. The Gondorhan Incident is what most people are afraid of, in every country in the world. People in Japan even consider it worse than the League and Intanzo, even after Raijin's group killed all of those heroes. It's the unknown that scares them the most, and, it scares me too. This disease could kill any one of us. It's an invisible enemy.

I shouldn't mention that I know, Zach thought. It has to be the same Officer Riekers though. I'm sure of it. He gave me a strange look earlier when we got on the plane. A look different from most people. I'd never met him before, but he saw me leave the War Boys base that night. He knew who the Hunter was and what his Quirk was when he started tracking him for Webb. The fact that Webb called that night, the description of Webb I'm sure the police heard about after the incident, and that I was involved, he knows that I was involved with Webb. Kaminari may have tracked down all the anti-heroes Ganji was involved with, but even if Ganji had tabs on Webb, he did not know all of Webb's associates. And now you're coming to China to help us deal with this- are you really just a cop? He's piloting this plane too. An anti-hero in secret. Tracking the Hunter. Countering bio-terrorism.

This guy's like Super-cop. Zach was waiting near the bathroom at the front of the plane, looking through the doorway to the cockpit that Ectoplasm had left open. The name of the pilot that Ectoplasm just mentioned had taken him a couple minutes to remember, as he had only heard Webb say it once before. They were heading down an elevator to Seiki Ganji's underground secret basement when Webb had called his "acquaintance" so they could track down the Hunter. Didn't know that the Riekers he mentioned was even in the Police Force, but a cop would be one of the few who could have placed a tracker in the short time that Hunter was in police custody. Knowing how easy it is to get villains arrested for good even catching them as an anti-hero, I see now that the footage Webb took that night was more to get Hunter released from jail than to try and keep him in there. Webb wasn't inexperienced. If I had stayed with him, I'm sure he would have explained that to me sooner or later. Likely when we used the Hunter's release to capture the League, he would have told me how it was his plan all along to be led there.

That would have been cool. I used it just as well.

Riekers is not a common name. It can't be a coincidence. Zach hummed to himself but lowered the left corner of his lips down a little, I shouldn't mention it. His Quirk could help in this operation, but he's not a hero. I have to follow the rules strictly here. Yue Fei called me specifically because I can revive people. It's not my job to find these terrorists. There are going to be amazing heroes all over that. I just need to do my job. Be the hero people expect me to be. I can leave the rest to my comrades.

"Stay with me from the minute we arrive, Creati," Recovery Girl said to the student walking back from the bathroom who was about to turn to Zach and say something. She turned the other way instead and faced the short old woman, and while Zach walked past her for the bathroom she just came out of, Recovery Girl continued, "In previous outbreaks I've dealt with- none as severe as I fear this is going to become- supply of crucial gear is paramount. Your job will be of utmost importance, right up there with Lifebringer's. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Recovery Girl," Yaoyorozu replied seriously to the school nurse, who was not coming with them as a nurse but as one of the many specialists called in from around the world to help with this medical emergency.

Rest of them so focused on fighting the virus, Jirou sat on the edge of her seat with her right foot tapping the floor and her left hand's fingers tapping on her knee. I'm on the team for "surveillance." They want me doing recon. Looking for the villains. Listening in for conversation that can lead us to the bio-terrorists. And if I get too close, the bastards might release their gas all over the area. Fuck me. No! This is the job. I can't hear a virus entering my lungs.

I can hear a villain's heavy breathing though. Even the most hardcore monsters will still breathe heavy and ragged when they know they're about to kill hundreds of people. Their heart rates will skyrocket. They'll stand out like a sore thumb in a crowd. Maybe not to the people around them, but I can single out the villain. I have to. Before anyone else dies. Her head lifted and she stared over the seats towards the front of the plane where Zach just got out of the bathroom. Jirou's lips curled down at the corners at the sight of him in his costume, looking so heroic… I'll catch them as quick as possible. If I take too long and he dies too many times- he doesn't get off that easily! Don't do that to yourself now. Are you looking to give him an excuse? He betrayed us. I have no idea what he's thinking.

I don't know, but I don't care either. Stop focusing on him and just concentrate on the mission at hand. There are bigger things right now than what Zach did to me- to us!

Dad's no longer a part of this. Star-Spangled Man doesn't know that I know, Todoroki stared at his hero costume in silent contemplation. He wants me to watch Zach carefully. Dad recused himself. Did he do it for this same reason? Does he, also know? Todoroki closed his eyes then turned his head to the window he looked out of. The clouds cleared and he could see the Chinese coast down below them that they were flying over now. I can't say anything to Zach. That's not right. And yet it isn't right leaving things as they are despite knowing already anyway.

Shoto kept thinking to himself, Three of us on this flight know for sure. Jirou never questioned it either, though I don't think she and Zach have talked about it. Star-Spangled Man says that she's investigating with a growing team in Japan outside of the ADTF. So many people are now in this investigation. It shouldn't detract from our primary focus! I know what I need to do here, and it has nothing to do with Zach. Todoroki's expression firmed and he stood up out of his seat with purpose, making Midoriya stare with wide eyes and then hesitate as he was about to finally take his turn in the bathroom getting changed. Todoroki got out of his row and started for the back, completely missing that Midoriya had been about to head back there himself and that he had kind of cut him off. If anyone wastes their time here, people will die. Every second counts.

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A/N Thanks for reading! Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Alright, 2 things!: First off, I just want to apologize for another long update. No excuse really other than being distracted, being in NY and all during all this. Hopefully things start getting better soon though. I also have finished the next chapter just today, so the next update will not be 2 weeks+ before uploading. Number 2: I really need to say this and make it very clear right here... So, back in January when the virus broke out I was like 'Oh man, that's crazy. A virus in China, what a coincidence.' That quickly turned into, 'Crap, do I have to leave out this whole arc? It might be insensitive. Plus, no one will believe that it was a coincidence.' Because the premise of the arc started off in such a way I really wanted back then to mention how I wasn't sure about doing it at all, and asking if anyone wanted to chime in... but I hate spoilers. And if I decided to do this, which I have now, I didn't want to spoil what was coming. Unfortunately, the virus spread everywhere, but that has also let me off the hook of possibly offending Chinese people or being insensitive to them. Now that I'm literally in the middle of the worst of it, I feel like I'm in the clear to just continue on with my original plan. NOW! This is not to say things about this arc have not inherently changed because of the situation in the world. As you've likely already noticed. The thing is, I always take responses and realistic characteristics of our world to try and write this story (like the history chapter Zach made his report out of which I really connected to straight our history), and the realism of this plague that has appeared in the My Hero world will obviously become a lot more realistic because I've seen the actual reactions that world governments, authority figures, and regular people have had to such an event that I would not have had a primary reference of several months ago when I came up with the idea for this. So yeah, there are probably going to be some things in here that you recognize and go: oh man! Is he talking about the- No. I cannot emphasize this enough. It's really just a very strange coincidence. It's not going to be that similar. And the only reason I put all this down here is as a disclaimer so y'all don't think I'm trying to be topical or something. I've made it clear for a while that I know how this story is going to end. I thought a while back that I could correctly guess how many chapters were left and I was SO wrong that I'm not going to try again, since I can't guesstimate correctly. What I will say is that by the time this started happening in full force, there were so few arcs left and I've set up so much through means of foreshadowing and plot development that the pacing would have been thrown off to leave out this arc too close to the end. I have an outline of how the rest of Death will go. Details may change, but I've had this outline for at least 6-7 months, and the final arc was outlined probably mid-fall. With all that said... I really hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Kirishima and Zach seem to be friends again after getting that fight out of their system and clearing the air between them. And now Zach and a group of heroes and his fellow students are on their way to China to deal with the outbreak of a deadly virus caused by a Quirk. I hope you're looking forward to the arc, and promise I'll get out the next chapter soon guys! Leave a review telling me what you think and how you're all doing, any questions about the story, comments, predictions, etc. Review response time:

GrayReader chapter 220 . Mar 29

I was in the process of setting my phone on the table at 3 am to finally catch some sleep when I got the notification you updated, ain't no rest for the wicked I suppose! I had to take a moment and reflect on how different Zach was when he started talking about the Kaminari betrayal and his time at UA. When you sit down and think of the development of the character and his progression through the story, it's nothing short of amazing. I'd give anything to see your work drawn out in a manga or anime. It's always great to see an author put this much detail and soul into a story, as always, you're doing an amazing job. Stay safe in these crazy times, I'll be looking forward to the next update!

My sleep schedule has seriously skewed over the past several weeks. It's 4:30 as I write this response so it probably won't be 5 until you get a notification. If your sleep schedule's shifted back too though, maybe you'll see this before you fall asleep! XD I'm happy you think Zach's progression has been great and I really do put a lot into the story so I'm glad you've been enjoying it. Been staying safe, hope you have to! Hope you enjoyed the new update!

xilios2000 chapter 220 . Mar 29

kirishima: you were afraid we would be a bunch of kamanari's! lol just realised that kamanari has become the japaneze version of Benedict Arnold in universe.

A whole bunch'a Kaminaris. To Class A, I guess Kaminari would be the Benedict Arnold of their lives. Nice comparison! Thanks for reviewing!

.0 chapter 220 . Mar 29

Geez hearing that Kirishima would have went with Zach was like a punch in the heart. I love the way every characters been built and developed, its mind blowing how well you do it. Wiith so many things happening it's crazy to think back on how Zach and all of class A use to be. I never thought about how it must have felt for Kirishima to hear Zach call the man who killed him a brother and I forgot how close the two used to be. Zach and Kiri hugging it out at the end had me smiling ear to ear and I was silently thanking Bakugou for deleting the audio recording. Stay safe and thanks for the great distraction from the current world!

I'm glad you've loved the development of the characters. Even with such a massive story it gets hard sometimes to make sure I flush out these characters who've always been important but who get sidelined for too long when the cast gets so huge. As many chapters as I put out, there are characters being put on the backburner who are important and just not mentioned often enough. Kirishima's always been one of my favorites and his relationship with Zach was really close before he left, and I tried hard to make last chapter remind us of that and how hard it's been since his return. Glad a bunch of y'all liked Bakugo deleting the audio, XD and sorry I couldn't get out some more distractions for you these past couple weeks. Been distracting myself as well as best I can. Things will get back to normal soon though, I hope. Until then, stay safe everyone. Look forward to the new update coming soon!